The Revolutionary Confederation of Anarcho-Syndicalists - N. I. Makhno (Революционная конфедерация анархо-синдикалистов им. Н. И. Махно), established in Ukraine in 1994, was one of the most famous anarchist organizations which emerged from the former Soviet Union. Platformist in essence, the organization managed to assemble a cohort of vigorous activists who wanted to adopt a strategic and responsible approach to the question of achieving a libertarian society.

The RKAS survived many troubles, it was involved in the miners' strike and had several long-tem projects, but it was not without its internal squabbles and splits. Over the past year, however, the organization has been heard from less and less. To find out what had happened to the RKAS, and also hear their opinion on the current events in Ukraine, our Russia-based comrades of Autonomous Action interviewed a comrade from the RKAS, Samurai.

Days after the Sochi Olympic Games, in the course of which the dictatorial Russian government allowed multinationals firms and other States to satisfy their capitalist pretensions by muzzling opposition and banning demonstrations, the repression of anticapitalists, anarchists, trade-union activists, and the feminist and anti-homophobe movements is still going on.

On the 24th February, 7 opponents to the regime have been sentenced for taking part in a demonstration against Putin in 2012, a protest which denounced the fixing of the presidential election by the State. They have been sentenced to up to 4 years detention in a camp for "mass disorder" and "violence against the forces of law and order". This political trial has been greatly criticized by the opposition who have gathered together in great number in front of the court to protest against authoritarianism and repression in the Russian State. In reply, between 200 and 400 people have been arrested with some being tried and given similar sentences. Among them are many anarchist comrades, but also anti-capitalists, feminists and anti-fascist activists.